UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
“Has one tried a word with you? You are weary! And who is able to keep in words?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, you have instructed many, And feeble hands you make strong.
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Your words raise up the stumbling one, And you strengthen bowing knees.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now, it comes to you, And you are weary; It strikes to you, and you are troubled.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Is your reverence not your confidence? Your hope—the perfection of your ways?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
Now remember, Who, being innocent, has perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
As I have seen—plowers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger [are] consumed.
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
11 Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness separate.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
And a thing is secretly brought to me, And my ear receives a little of it.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
Fear has met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
And a spirit passes before my face, The hair of my flesh stands up;
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
It stands, and I do not discern its aspect, A likeness [is] before my eyes, Silence! And I hear a voice:
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
Is mortal man more righteous than God? Is a man cleaner than his Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Behold, He puts no credence in His servants, Nor sets praise in His messengers.
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
Also—the inhabitants of houses of clay (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth).
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, they perish forever.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
Has their excellence not been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!”
